15 Now Launches Signature Gathering to put $15 on the Ballot

On the same day fast food workers were walking off the job in 150 cities in the U.S. and over 30 countries around the world, 15 Now was officially starting to gather signatures for its $15 an hour charter amendment. The first to sign the petition to get the amendment onto the ballot was city councilmember Kshama Sawant.

“Today I stand in solidarity with the fast food and low-wage workers around the world who are taking action for $15 an hour and right to organize without retaliation,” said Sawant. “These workers can’t wait till 2025. The Mayor’s proposal is a step forward but it falls short of what workers need by adding unnecessary delays of 3, 5, or even 10 years before getting up to an inflation adjusted $15. I’m putting forward amendments to the Mayor’s proposal to close these corporate loopholes but if the majority of the City Council sides with big business we have the back-up option of letting the voters decide in November.”

Sawant was joined by low-wage workers and trade union and community organization leaders, including APWU Greater Seattle Local vice-president David Yao, IBEW 46 PAC Secretary Treasurer Angela Marshall, the Executive Director of Casa Latina Hilary Stern, Somali American Public Affairs Council’s Omar Mumin and the Organizing Director of 15 Now Jess Spear.

“A new poll shows that a majority of people in Seattle are against a big business phase-in. It is unreasonable to give McDonalds and Safeway 3 to 4 years to go to $15 when they are entirely capable of doing it right now. We will be bringing 20,000 signatures to the City Council before they vote to demonstrate the huge support for closing these corporate loopholes” said Spear.

The 15 Now Charter Amendment has large business paying $15 an hour starting January 1, 2015, while small business and non-profits will have a 3-year phase-in.

The Mayor’s proposal has a 3-4 year phase-in for large business and a 5-10 year phase-in for small business. It also includes a tip and healthcare penalty while the charter amendment would make $15 the baseline for all workers with tips and benefits on top.